Treatments

Enlarged Prostate Treatments

The experienced urologists at Northwestern Medicine treat enlarged prostate symptoms in men. Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on: 

• Your age, overall health and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Your urologist can help with diagnosis and treatment of an enlarged prostate, including:  

• Lifestyle changes: Increased activity, avoiding alcohol and caffeine and Kegel exercises can help control urine leakage.
• Medication: Some medications can shrink the prostate or halt its growth.
• Microwave therapy: Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) is a minimally invasive procedure that opens up the urethra by heating and destroying excessive prostate tissue.
• Surgery: In severe cases, you may need surgery to remove the enlarged portion of the prostate.

Preventing complications from an enlarged prostate 

All men above the age of 50 should undergo an annual digital rectal exam to evaluate the health of their prostate. In addition, they should have a serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) measurement to detect the presence of prostate cancer. All patients seen in the Urology Clinic at Northwestern Medicine may submit a urine specimen to be evaluated for the presence of infection or blood.